The United States government authorizes the payment of federal incentives for detainees in Puerto Rico

The inmates in Puerto Rico will be able to receive the $ 1,200 stimulus check and the new $ 600 from the federal government this year for the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Payments will be made after the US Treasury Department signs the amended plan filed by the Puerto Rico Department of the Treasury.

This was reported to The new day Diego Alcalá, who has filed state and federal lawsuits to issue these payments on the island, in accordance with a verdict from a federal court in California. That resolution ordered the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to make those payments available to inmates in state and federal prisons.

“The right of those deprived of liberty in Puerto Rico is enforced, as in the prisons of the United States, as enshrined in law (which created the economic stimulus payment),” Alcalá said.

The California federal court had ruled that prisoners were entitled to payment because the text of the economic stimulus law did not exclude them. In Puerto Rico, however, the payment does not come directly from the Treasury to the citizens, but through the Treasury, which came up with an amended plan to eliminate the section that specifically excludes the island’s inmates from the benefit, but did not receive them answer.

Alcalá said he learned of the approval yesterday by speaking by phone and email with the federal court attorney representing the Treasury and the IRS in the federal lawsuit.

“There are some doubts about the process now coming, but what is clear is that they will be able to receive both payments,” Alcalá said.

The Treasury approval came up last week, but was only announced today during a message from Treasury officials via social networks.

“Now the Treasury, along with the Correction and Rehabilitation Department, must facilitate the mechanisms so that they can apply for benefits,” Alcalá said.

In the virtual broadcast this afternoon, the Secretary of the Treasury, Roxana Santiago, indicated that in state and federal prisons in the United States the stimulus was already paid, but the territories were missing.

After submitting the plan in November, Santiago said today that “it was approved last week. Given the time it was approved, the link of people who are not required to submit (the petitions) was already closed. Detainees are eligible, but they will have to use the 2020 income tax return mechanism ”.

For his part, Alcalá said that these payments can help not only the needs of those in prisons, but also their families. He noted that the DCR asked people to bring food to share with relatives who are being hospitalized, which has been stopped by the COVID-19 pandemic.

They also have personal expenses, such as paying for communication with their family members and purchasing certain items from the prison police station.

“In addition, they have many family members affected by the pandemic. They won’t have that money with that, but it will be used for specific needs, such as helping their families, ”said Alcalá.

“People are also being held for debt, like with ASUME for retirement, so this money can not only help them, but also a minor who needs it. It is very useful money, ”said Alcalá.